Frank Eli Perron Sr.

Sharon, Vt. — Frank Eli Perron Sr., formerly of Sharon, passed away Sunday, April 26, 2014, at Brookside Nursing Home where he was receiving rehabilitation after a recent surgery. He was 90 years old.

Frank was born Sept. 1, 1923 in Stockbridge, Vt., the youngest son of Arthur & Addie (Chamberlain) Perron. He attended schools in Stockbridge until the 8th grade and soon after joined the work force. He held a variety of jobs including working for Ruel Abbott on their farm in Bethel, he was a farmhand and delivered milk for Pompajersey Farm, a yard man and truck driver for John Gibson’s sawmill in Sharon until it was closed by the building of I-89, and later as a carpenter for Renehen Acres and then Frank Gilman until he retired.

On May 12, 1943 he married Ethel Wilson and they spent most of their married life in Sharon on Howe Hill Road where they moved in April of 1953. Besides working full time as a finish carpenter, Frank was a farmer who milked by hand morning and night and then finished his day by working on projects in his basement. He adhered to many of the “old” ways using a hand scythe to cut the roadside grass and haying loose cut, perfecting the art of twirling hay onto a fork and pitching it into a truck. There was very little that he couldn’t do and he was often referred to as “Jack of all trades”. Frank was a hard working man who did all the maintenance at his home in Sharon & his companion’s property in Wilder into his late 80s.

Frank enjoyed brook fishing, hunting and spending time with the “boys” at the family hunting camp. Sugaring season was one of his favorite times of year and there was always an annual sugar-on-snow party. Going to dances, having cookouts and family gatherings were things that Frank enjoyed. In his later years he liked to spend time at the Maine coast walking on the beach.

He is survived by his companion of the last 19 years, Vivian Derrick; a daughter and son-in-law Beatrice & Pete Cole, South Royalton; four sons and daughters-in-law, Winston & Marylou Perron, Montpelier, Frank Jr. & Janice Perron, No. Pomfret, Eugene & Lori Perron, Quechee, Duane & Kate Perron, South Royalton; five grandsons; seven granddaughters; seven great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife of 50 years, Ethel Perron, a brother Fred Perron Sr., and a sister Ruth Perron.

A graveside service will be held at the Riverview Cemetery in South Royalton, Vt. on Saturday, May 31, 2014 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Visiting Nurse Alliance and Hospice of VT and NH, 66 Benning Street, Suite 6, West Lebanon, NH 03784 or the Norris Cotton Cancer Center at DHMC. Condolences may be expressed to Frank’s family in an online guestbook at www.knightfuneralhomes.com.